Another few days passed, and today marked the start of the new year. More importantly, it was the day of the Enlightenment Ceremony.
I sat in a carriage alongside my mother, Rosalind, and my father, Daizen, as we made our way to the shrine where the ceremony would take place. Though the shrine was located within the royal palace grounds, it was far enough that it took several minutes to reach by carriage.
The venue of the ceremony, I had learned, varied depending on the region and its traditions. In some countries, it was held in grand churches or temples, while others used shrines like the one we were visiting. For more esoteric or demonic beings, the location might be a dark sanctuary or a cathedral imbued with shadowy reverence.
As the carriage came to a halt, I stepped out, taking in the sight before me.
The shrine was magnificent, a structure blending tradition with grandeur. The roof was arched and tiled in a deep crimson, adorned with golden edges that shimmered in the sunlight. Intricate carvings of mythical creatures lined the wooden beams, their craftsmanship a testament to the skills of generations past. Surrounding the main building were lush gardens, their greenery a stark contrast to the warm colors of the shrine. Stone lanterns lined the path, leading toward the main structure where the ceremony would take place.
We walked toward the shrine, and as we approached, a crowd gathered near the entrance. Upon noticing our arrival, the assembled individuals turned their attention to us, bowing and offering greetings.
My father and mother responded with poised nods, their regal presence commanding respect. As for me, I stayed a step behind my mother, offering only polite smiles in return to the greetings directed my way.
Among the crowd, I noticed three couples standing together, each accompanied by a child. Judging by their demeanor and features, they were clearly of royal lineage. My father's relatives, perhaps? The children must be my cousins, and they seemed to be around my age.
In addition to the families, there were also spectators—likely nobles or shrine attendants—who had come purely to witness the event. I couldn't help but think they were simply taking up space.
My attention shifted as I spotted my brothers near the shrine. All four of them were present, including Feraz, whom I hadn't seen the other day. He stood slightly apart, his posture straight, his expression indifferent. His white hair and brown eyes mirrored my father's features so closely that I couldn't help but draw the comparison.
The formalities concluded with one of the families offering me the honor of going first, as befitting my status as a prince.
I quickly declined, insisting that the other children go ahead while I would take my turn last. There was a moment of hesitation, but with my father saying nothing to oppose my decision, the matter was settled.
Was there a specific reason for my choice? Not really. I simply wanted to observe how the process unfolded before it was my turn.
Before entering the shrine's main building, we were addressed by a shrine maiden who explained the procedure. She wore a traditional robe of white and crimson, her tone calm and authoritative.
She explained that another shrine maiden would be inside to guide each child through the ceremony. The process required focus, and thus, adults were to remain outside to avoid distractions.
Mediation or something similar, perhaps? I thought to myself as I listened.
The shrine maiden's instructions were clear: the children would enter one by one, and the process would be conducted privately.
I took a deep breath, my curiosity piqued about what awaited us within the shrine's sacred halls.
With the explanation concluded, the first child was called by the shrine maiden.
"Young Lord Ryzen," she announced, her voice steady yet warm.
A boy, slightly taller than the rest of us, stepped forward. His confident strides matched his stature, and he entered the shrine with an air of composure. The wooden door shut behind him with a gentle thud, and silence returned to the waiting crowd.
Time passed slowly. After a while, Ryzen re-emerged, his face adorned with a bright smile as he approached his parents. Judging by his expression, the results of his ceremony must have been favorable.
Next, the shrine maiden called out, "Young Lady Ellia."
A girl with sharp features and an elegant posture stepped forward. Her face betrayed no emotion, remaining neutral as she disappeared into the shrine. When she returned, her expression was unchanged—stoic and unreadable.
Perhaps that was just her natural demeanor.
Then it was the third child's turn.
"Young Lord Rais," the shrine maiden announced.
The boy stepped forward, his movements less assured than those before him, but when he exited the shrine, his face was radiant. A grin spread wide across his cheeks as he rejoined his parents.
Good for you, kid, I thought, a faint smile tugging at my lips.
Finally, it was my turn.
"Your Highness Frynn," the shrine maiden called.
Taking a steady breath, I stepped forward toward the shrine doors. The wooden panels creaked softly as they closed behind me, shutting out the world outside.
The moment I stepped inside, I was struck by the shrine's interior.
The walls were a seamless blend of smooth, polished wood and stone etched with intricate carvings of flowing patterns and symbols. Faint blue and white lights illuminated the space, casting a soft, ethereal glow that heightened the serenity of the atmosphere. The air smelled faintly of incense—subtle, not overpowering—and carried a sense of calm and reverence.
At the center of the room stood the altar, modest yet captivating in its simplicity. It was constructed of polished stone and framed with a faintly glowing circle carved into the floor. The lack of statues or idols made it feel pure, untainted by the interpretations of mortal hands.
Not far from the altar stood a shrine maiden. Her amber hair fell neatly down her back, and her yellow eyes glimmered with warmth. Her gentle smile and composed posture instantly put me at ease.
"Welcome, Your Highness Frynn," she said, her voice as soothing as a lullaby. "I am Mikari, the one who will guide you through the ceremony. Please follow me."
She gestured for me to walk with her, leading me deeper into the shrine.
"You don't need to feel nervous," Mikari said kindly. "The process is straightforward, and it will not harm you."
Her reassurance helped ease the slight tension in my chest as we arrived at a secluded room.
The room was spacious yet minimalist, its design emphasizing tranquility. The centerpiece was a circular pattern carved into the floor, radiating an otherworldly energy. Unlike traditional magic circles, this one was carved with precision, as though the very stone itself was imbued with meaning.
The carvings bore intricate lettering that resembled runes, their flowing strokes forming a calligraphic masterpiece. The light emanating from the carvings shifted gently, as if alive, creating an almost hypnotic effect.
Mikari gestured to the center of the circle. "Please sit here."
I followed her instructions, lowering myself onto the cold stone surface. The room exuded an aura of calm, its silence wrapping around me like a comforting embrace.
"Now, close your eyes and empty your mind of all unnecessary thoughts," she instructed softly.
"If you feel as though you're losing consciousness, let it happen. Do not resist. The ceremony requires your complete openness."
I nodded silently and shut my eyes, letting her words guide me.
Hearing her light footsteps retreating, I listened as the door creaked open and closed again, leaving me alone in the room.
I took a deep breath, focusing on clearing my mind. Slowly, the weight of my thoughts began to lift. It didn't take long before I felt an odd sensation—a pull, gentle at first, then growing stronger. My consciousness began to fade, the world around me dissolving into darkness.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a vast, endless darkness—eerily similar to the void where my soul had once lingered in its formless state. I glanced at my hands, my arms, my entire form; this wasn't my physical body. It was more like a spiritual projection—an ethereal vessel of some sort.
Unlike before, this place didn't feel as desolate. The darkness here was alive, vibrating faintly with energy. The emptiness wasn't suffocating but strangely comforting, like the calm before a storm.
Dotting the darkness were countless tiny orbs of light, each one glowing in its own distinct hue. They floated gently, scattered like stars across a night sky, pulsating faintly as if they were alive.
"What... is this place?" I muttered under my breath, unsure of what to do next.
With no guide or instruction provided, I scratched my temple in frustration.
"Couldn't they have at least told me what to do?" I complained aloud, my voice swallowed up by the endless void.
I spotted an orange orb floating close by and decided to approach it. Reaching out with my hand, I tried to grasp it, but it phased through my fingers like mist.
Sighing, I moved to a red orb, attempting the same. The result was identical—it slipped through me as if I didn't exist.
"Well, that's not helpful," I muttered, frowning.
Still, I refused to give up. One by one, I tried connecting with the other orbs—green, blue, yellow, violet. Some phased through me, others drifted away as I approached, evading me entirely.
Each failed attempt gnawed at me, a small sting of rejection that built with every orb. By the time I reached a dark purple orb, only for it to avoid me as well, I felt a pang of frustration.
"This hurts more than I expected," I admitted, a half-hearted laugh escaping me.
It was then that something peculiar caught my eye. Among the vibrant orbs was one unlike the rest. It was almost transparent, faintly glowing with a barely perceptible shimmer.
"Is that… white?" I mused, stepping closer. "No, it's not quite white. Colorless, maybe?"
It didn't resemble any other orb I'd seen—it looked as though it didn't belong here, yet here it was.
Curiosity piqued, I moved toward it. Before I could reach it, the colorless orb suddenly moved toward me instead. My eyes widened as it approached, and I instinctively reached out, but it avoided my hand and shot directly into my chest.
"Eh?" A confused sound escaped me as I patted my chest.
I barely had time to process this when another sensation surged through me. Something else entered my back—a sharp, sudden intrusion that made me gasp.
"What the…?" I stammered, twisting my head in confusion.
Though the sensations were strange, they weren't painful. Still, they left me uneasy.
"Was that it? Am I done?" I wondered aloud, patting my body again as if to check for physical changes.
But before I could dwell on it further, I felt my form begin to fade, as if the space was letting me go.
"That's it?" I thought, almost disappointed.
And then, it happened.